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(From L-R) Boney M: Paulette Kerr, Jacinth Mhende, Tony Ashcroft and lead vocalist Liz Mitchell during the press conference at Hotel de Oriental Grand on December 9 evening.[/caption]
Kohima Bureau
Kohima, Dec. 9 (EMN): After decades they are in Nagaland. Boney M. You know who.
The much anticipated show—Christmas with Boney M— of the ‘70s disco greats is all set for Dec. 10 evening at the hockey ground of the Indira Gandhi stadium in Kohima town.
The popular German vocal group, with a team of seven members, has arrived in the state’s capital on Sat. led by the band's lead vocalist Liz Mitchell.
The Jamaican-born singer Liz Mitchell was one of the four original line-up of Boney M. The band was formed in 1976. She is accompanied by her line-up artistes Tony Ashcroft (who replaced Bobby Farell who died in 2010), Jacinth Mhende and Paulette Kerr, who have been touring with her since the late ‘80s till date as Boney M featuring Liz Mitchell with original record German producer Frank Farain.
The other crew members are Mitchell’s husband Thomas Pemberton, general manager of the band; her son Twan Pemberton and Richard Bidgood, who are both sound engineers.
The international music show, which is the only major music event in Kohima this year, is expected to bring thousands of music lovers from across Nagaland and neighbouring states.
Although the band had performed in India a couple of times in the past, this is going to be their first performance in the music-crazy Northeast region. The organisers have expectations about making it one of the 'greatest' Boney M shows in India.
“We have come here with great expectations and we want to make it an exceptional and a fascinating music show,” Mitchell said.
Boney M was one of the most popular bands of the ‘70s and ‘80s, and as informed by Mitchell, on Sunday evening at the IG Stadium, they will be performing some of their hits including Daddy Cool, Rasputin, Rivers of Babylon, Mary’s Boy Child, Little Drummer Boy and Brown Girl in the Ring, to name a few.
The show, as informed by Mitchell and the organisers, may last for an hour or more, 'depending on the response of the crowd' on Sunday evening.
NOC’s Convenor Kethosituo Elvis Mepfhüo said that the show was expected to be a ‘Christmas family show’ for all age groups, a sizeable part of which will be from the older generation.
Before Boney M takes the stage at 6 PM, some local artistes including Mengu Suokhrie will start performing at 5 PM.
The ‘general’ tickets for single entry is priced at INR 1000, while others willing to avail parking facility and light refreshments will have to go for the INR 10,000 ‘gold’ pass which will admit two adults. Children below ten years and accompanying their parents will be given free entry, the organisers said while informing also that tickets will be available at the venue.
To ensure smooth traffic flow during the concert, vehicles from the Wokha side and those proceeding to the IG stadium from the High School side will be diverted toward the new Secretariat area through the High Court junction below Meriema village, it was informed.